Page 33 of Dimitri
He looked up then as she reached the last two steps.
"Babushka." His slightly accented voice warmed her to the very bones. "I was just about to go and get ready to take care of the seedlings."
"No hurry." She slid her hand through his arm and turned him in the direction of the sunny yellow salon.
"Celeste, please bring us some refreshments," she told the maid before turning to her grandson. "I already had breakfast, but I could use a bit of sustenance."
He placed his hand over hers and courteously guided her to a plush Victorian chair facing the crackling fire and overlooking her beloved greenhouse. She was dressed for her sojourn outside in faded jeans and a thick emerald green sweater that brought out the color of her eyes.
"Now darling." She gestured for him to have a seat. "How serious is it?"
He selected a comfortable rocker and stretched his legs out. The time had come to make his intentions clear. "I'm assuming you already know where I spent the night."
A smile curved her lips as she studied him. "How's the darling Allison?"
He grinned at her. "On her way to work. I made her late, so she's more than a little annoyed with me. I prepared her some breakfast." He shrugged broad shoulders and settled morecomfortably in the chair. "Well, not prepared really. I took some items over last night." He paused a second before adding, "I broke into her house."
Instead of being shocked, a delighted laugh erupted from the tiny woman across from him and tugged a smile from his lips.
"How romantic."
"She did not think so," he mused, recalling how she had almost brained him with a can of corn, or was it peas? He shook his head. "She was justifiably mad."
The tray was wheeled in at that point and he waited for the maid to leave and close the door behind her.
"Of course she was. You violated her home." She gave him a speculative look as she poured tea and felt the warmth spreading throughout her body. The baby of her baby was going to stay in the States. She could see the look on his face, the same one her girl had when she met his father.
He grinned a little sheepishly, a gesture she found unbelievably charming.
"She made her opinion of what I did abundantly clear." Lifting his hand, he touched the side of his head and could imagine feeling the can connecting. "She's very feisty and very fierce." His eyes darkened. "And also, foolishly brave." He related the scene in the courtroom.
"And of course, you wanted to jump to her rescue." Elizabeth was enjoying the conversation more than the fragrant tea and delicate pastries.
"I wanted to wrap my hands around the woman's neck and squeeze. I did not like seeing her attacked. She still bears the bruises. Foolish woman," he muttered into his cup.
"The unfortunate mother of that poor child or Allison?"
"Allison of course." His eyes danced as he stared at her. "You have not asked me how I feel about her."
"Oh my dear." His grandmother replaced the cup carefully into the saucer. "It's plain as the nose on your face. I saw the same look on your mother's face when she met your father." She sighed. "Does Allison know you're in love with her?"
He had to take a breath. It was something he had been pushing aside to deal with when he was steadier, but now that it was brought out into the open, it could no longer be ignored.
"I do not think so." Putting the cup down, he picked up a cream puff and examined it for a few seconds before taking a bite.
"Invite her to supper."
He glanced at her with a smile. "I would say great minds think alike. She would take it better coming from you. I tend to..." He waved a hand. "How do you say? Pose demands instead of questions. She does not take too kindly to the way I speak to her." He shrugged elegantly. "I have to readjust my approach. She still has not given me a key." He sighed and then smiled. "Which means breaking and entering again." His devastating grin flashed. "I trust you will put up money for my bail if she follows through on her threats to have me thrown in jail."
She laughed, the sound rich and full. Oh, how she was enjoying the dear boy!
"Absolutely." Her green eyes danced merrily. "I will of course extend the invitation." She rose when he did. "I also suspect we will not be seeing you again tonight?"
"No." Crossing the room, he took her hands in his and bent over to kiss her surprisingly unlined cheek. "You are the best."
She squeezed his hands and felt the moisture gathering at the back of her eyes. "You've made me very happy." She let him go, stopping him when he reached the door. "Darling?"
Turning his head, he looked at her.
